Spirit wheel



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WILLIAM I-I. SWALLOW, OF JOHNSTO'VVN, FENNSYLVANIA.

SPIR-IT WHEEL.

Laia-eee.

specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 6, 1922i.

y Application led June 2G, 1920. Serial No. 391,859.

7 10 all whom t mag/conceive.'

Be it known thatr I, VVILLiaM H. Swat.- Low, a 'citizen ofthe United States, residing at Johnstown, in the county of'Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, vhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spirit Wheels, of which the following is specification.

This invention relates to a spirit wheel for conveying messages from the unknown to the living world. Y

An important object of the invention is the provision of a spirit wheel of the above described character having characters thereon and means to 'readily vrespond in performing the function of conveying messages.

A further object of the linvention is the provisionof a device of the above described character embodying a wheel or disc having characters thereon, such as phrases, alphabet, and the like, and an indicating hand for spelling'or designating messages uponV the wheelupon placing of the hands or iingers upon the wheel kto operate the same.

Otherfobjects'and advantages will heapparent' during the course of the following detailed description ln the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification andin which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the same: f Y

' Figure l is a plan view of the spirit wheel. y A Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure?) is a horizontal cross sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of `Figure 2.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred form of my invention; the letter A designates the spirit wheel pivotally mounted upon a base B, which base is further suijiported upon legs C. An indicating'arm D is arranged upon the wheel A-as to assume various positions with respect thereto.

The wheel A is preferably circular in formation having a hub 'l0 thereon comprising a portion il which bears upon thc uppeil surface. l2 of thebase B, and a circular portion i3 pivotally mounted within an aperture i4 in the base B. The wheel A is held within the aperture le by a disk 15, preferably of metal, which bears against the under surface 16 of base B, and is held upon hub l of the wheel A by a screw 17 or the like.

The base B is preferablyv circularl in formation, and is provided with apertures i8 for the reception of the reduced ends i9 of posts C. A post 2O preferably a screw,- is rigidly mounted in the base B and remote from the aperture let therein, and projects upwardly through a slot 2l in the wheel structure A, which slot is formed in the wheel structure A preferably concentric with the pivot'thereof.

The indicating arm D is pivoted upon the upper face of the wheel A intermediate the wheel pivot and the slot 2l formed in the wheel A, by a screw 22 or some similar pivoting means. The indicating arm D is suspended free from contact with the surface of the wheel A by washers 23, and .is maintained on thel screw 22 by washer 24. An end of the indicating arm 25 is provided with a slot 26, adapted to freely receive the post 20 rigidly mounted in the base B, a washer 27 being provided intermediate the head 28 of the post- 20 and the upper surface of the indicati-ng arm to prevent the .indicating arm from becoming disengaged with the post 20. The pointer 30 of the indicating arm D is arranged to assume various positions upon the wheel A, such asindications'of the lletters; of the alphabet which are arranged in line formation, upon `the surface of the wheel A concentric with vthe pivot of the indicating arm D. The limits of movement'of the pointer end 30 upon the boardA are defined by the words Yes und Na l .ln operation the person or persons seat themselvesabout the circumference of the wheel A and place their lingers or hands upon 'the surface adjacent the edges thereof and in light contacttherewith. The portion il .is so arranged upon the hub l0 that the wheel A is spaced from the base B, and the bearing surfaces offer such slight resistance Vthat the wheel A is capable of being turned by involuntary movement of the hand of the operator. As the wheel A moves, it naturally tends to move the pointer D along with it. l-lowever,-'the post 20 which projects upwardlyr through.tlie slot 2i in the wheel A, is rigidly fastened to the base B. Since there is no movement of the base B with respect to the wheel A, the

post 2O will abut against the inside face or .faces 31 oll the slot 26, and tend to move the indicating arm I) upon its pivot 22, to designate various characters upon the surface i ot the Wheel A.

It is to be understood that the torni ot my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement ot parts may be resorted to Without departing trom the spirit ot the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

l. In a spirit wheel, the combinationot a base, a wheel pivoted upon said base, an indicating arm pivoted `upon said Wheel, and means mounted upon said base and engaging said indicating arm whereby the indicating arm assumes various positions With respect to the wheel upon oscillation of the wheel upon its pivot.

2. In a spirit Wheel, the combination ot a wheel capable of oscillation on a pivot, an indicating arm pivoted upon said Wheel, and fixed means independent of said wheel for slidably engaging said indicating arm whereby the indicating arm assumes various positions with respect to the Wheel upon oscillation ot' the Wheel upon its pivot.

3. In a spirit wheel, the combination of a base, a` Wheel pivoted upon said base having a slot therein concentric With the pivot, an indicating arm pivotally mounted upon said wheel adjacent the` slot, and a post mounted upon said base projecting upwardly through said slot to 'freely engage the indicating dial and adapted to make the indicating arm assume various positions with respect to the wheel upon oscillation ot the Wheel upon its pivot.

4t. In a spiritwheel, the combination of a base, a wheel pivoted upon said base having designating characters thereon, and having a slot therein concentric with said pivot, an indicating arm pivotallymounted upon said Wheel adjacent the slot and having a slot therein, and a post rigidly mounted upon said base and projecting through said slot in the Wheel to freely engage Within the slot in the indicating arm, and adapted to make the indicating arm assume various positions with respect to the wheel upon oscillation of the Wheel upon its pivot.

5. In a s )irit Wheel, the combination, of a base, a wlieel pivoted upon said base, an indicating arm pivoted upon said Wheel, said Wheel having designating characters thereon in a curved line concentric with the pivot ot said indicating arm, and means mounted upon said base and engaging said indicating arm whereby the indicating arm is made to pointout various characters on the Wheel upon oscillation of the Wheel upon its pivot.

6. Ina spirit Wheel, the combination of a base, a circular Wheel pivoted upon said base, an indicating arm pivoted upon said wheel intermediate the Wheels` pivot and an edge of the Wheel, and means mounted upon said base-to loosely engage the indicating arm whereby-it ismoved With respect to the Wheel upon oscillation of the Wheel upon its pivot.

7. In a spirit Wheel, theicombination of a base, a-circular Wheel pivoted upon said base having a slot therein concentric With its pivotk an indicating arm pivoted upon; said wheel intermediate the vv-heels` pivot and slotltherein, and means mountedupon, said base to loosely engage the indicatingfarm whereby itis moved withk respect to` the Wheel upon ,oscillationl of Athe Wheel uppnits pivot.

8. In a spirit Wheel, the combination of a base, legs mounted upon said base andsupportingthe same, a circular Wheelhaving an extending huh thereon pivoteduponsaid base and spacing. the. Wheelirom `the base, said Wheel having designating characters thereon and having akslottherein concentric with thepivot-ot the Wheel, nan, indicating arm pivotallymounted upon saidvvcheel interrnediat@J the wheels pivot and the slot, said arm having. a slot;therein, anda post rigidly mounted uponsaid base andprojecting upwardly through said slotin vthe Wheel and freely engaging Within Vthe slot ofthe indicating arm, and adapted toV ride against the inside faces of said slot in the indicating arm to make the. indicating arm `assume various positions with respect` to thewheel upon oscillation` ot the wheel ,upon itspivot,

9. In a spirit Wheel, the combination o-a base, a Wheel pivoted upon said base having characters thereon and a slot therein, an indicating armA pivotally mountedupon" said wheel intermediate thevvheels pivot andthe slot in the Wheel, and means mountedjupon said base and freely engagingv said army to make the arm designate variousA characters on the Wheel upon pivotal movement ot' the Wheel.

10. In a spirit Wheel, the combination of a base, a wheel pivotally mounted upon said base, an indicating arm eccentrically pivoted upon said Wheel with respect to said Wheel pivot, andv means stationary with said base for engaging the indicating arm, `vvhereby said indicatingk arm assumes various posi tions upon said Wheel upon oscillation 

